Trump Administration Revokes 6,000 Student Visas in Sweeping Crackdown

The State Department just yanked more than 6,000 international student visas, citing crimes, overstays, and even “support for terrorism.”

Officials said the “vast majority” of cases involved offenses like assault, burglary, and DUI, with about 200–300 visas tied to what the law calls “terrorist activity.” But the definition is broad—acts that “endanger human life or violate US law”—and critics say the administration is using it to target students who’ve protested in support of Palestine, labeling them as antisemitic.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear this was no one-off. “I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” he told lawmakers in May. Translation: if you’re here on a student visa and step out of line, expect a one-way ticket home or… somewhere else, like El Salvador.

This comes on top of new hurdles for foreign students: visa appointments were paused earlier this year, and when they restarted, applicants had to cough up their social media accounts for “enhanced screening.” Officers were directed to weed out anyone showing hostility toward U.S. values—or backing “designated foreign terrorists.”

Democrats call the move an attack on due process, while Trump’s camp calls it protecting higher education from foreign threats. With over 1.1 million international students in the U.S., this fight is just getting started.

College once meant late-night pizza runs and student debt. Now it means hoping the State Department doesn’t scroll your Twitter feed before midterms.

Source: BBC